Derrick Bird’s twin brother ‘was one in a billion’

Gunman Derrick Bird's family were united in grief today as they said goodbye to the killer's twin, David.

More than 500 mourners gathered at St Michael's at Lamplugh in west Cumbria for the mechanic's funeral.

David Bird, 52, was his brother's first victim in the shooting spree two weeks ago. Mr Bird, a father of three girls, was reportedly shot in his bed before his brother went on to kill 11 other people and then himself.

Today, the killer's eldest son, Graeme, 28, and his wife, Victoria, joined David Bird's daughters and estranged wife Susan to pay their last respects.

Mr Bird's children, Rachel, 28, Tracey, 26, and Katie, 19, wrote a tribute to their father, read to the congregation by the Rev Jim Marshall. "Dad, where do we start?" they said. "Not only were you one in a million, but more like one in a billion.

"You were quirky, hilarious, cheeky and downright cute. You brought laughter everywhere you went and always put a smile on everyone's faces. You always showed us girls great affection like at Easter when you used to eat the back half of our Easter eggs and then wrap it back up so we'd never know And only you could get away with asking every girl you knew if they had still been taking their ugly pills.

"You were our hero, dad. We always remember when you came to rescue us in the big snow, getting us home in the bucket of the digger. But you were mischievous as well, like when you would take us to Grandma Bird's on a Friday night and we would rally all the way through, doing handbrake turns.

"That was of course until that time you clipped that fence and we were told Now, don't be telling your mother'. With all these stories you will never die, dad So Put kettle on father' — we'll see you soon."

Mr Marshall said the death of Mr Bird left "a huge gap" in the lives of his family. He added: "David is no longer standing beside us — cap, pipe and DayGlo jacket to the ready."